Anachronisms in the History of Mathematics
Essays on the Historical Interpretation of Mathematical Texts

Discover essays by leading scholars on the history of mathematics from ancient to modern times in European and non-European cultures.

Niccolò Guicciardini (Edited by)

9781108834964, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 22 July 2021

392 pages
23.6 x 15.9 x 2.9 cm, 0.753 kg

'The main contribution of the book lies in this rich meta-historical reflection. Apart from contributing to their specific historiographies, the essays of this book provide an important contribution to the methodology of the history of mathematics. As a consequence, the book has an appeal for any historian of mathematics, regardless of their period of specialisation.' Raffaele Danna, Nuncius

The controversial matters surrounding the notion of anachronism are difficult ones: they have been broached by literary and art critics, by philosophers, as well as by historians of science. This book adopts a bottom-up approach to the many problems concerning anachronism in the history of mathematics. Some of the leading scholars in the field of history of mathematics reflect on the applicability of present-day mathematical language, concepts, standards, disciplinary boundaries, indeed notions of mathematics itself, to well-chosen historical case studies belonging to the mathematics of the past, in European and non-European cultures. A detailed introduction describes the key themes and binds the various chapters together. The interdisciplinary and transcultural approach adopted allows this volume to cover topics important for history of mathematics, history of the physical sciences, history of science, philosophy of mathematics, history of philosophy, methodology of history, non-European science, and the transmission of mathematical knowledge across cultures.

1. Introduction: The Historical Interpretation of Mathematical Texts and the Problem of Anachronism Niccolò Guicciardini
2. From Reading Rules to Reading Algorithms: Textual Anachronisms in the History of Mathematics and their Effects on Interpretation Karine Chemla
3. Anachronism and Anachorism in the Study of Mathematics in India Kim Plofker
4. On the Need to Re-examine the Relationship between the Mathematical Sciences and Philosophy in Greek Antiquity Jacqueline Feke
5. Productive Anachronism: On Mathematical Reconstruction as a Historiographical Method Martina R. Schneider
6. Anachronism in the Renaissance Historiography of Mathematics Robert Goulding
7. Deceptive Familiarity: Differential Equations in Leibniz and the Leibnizian School (1689–1736) Niccolò Guicciardini
8. Euler and Analysis: Case Studies and Historiographical Perspectives Craig Fraser and Andrew Schroter
9. Measuring Past Geometers: A History of Non-Metric Projective Anachronism Jemma Lorenat
10. Anachronism: Bonola and Non-Euclidean Geometry Jeremy Gray
11. Anachronism and Incommensurability: Words, Concepts, Contexts, and Intentions Joseph W. Dauben
Index.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX], Philosophy of science [PDA], History of mathematics [PBX], Philosophy of mathematics [PBB], Historiography [HBAH]